The citizens of Lacombe are not upset with the Industrial Zoning (I-2) on Louisiana 434 and Interstate 12, they are upset with the issuance of a waste transfer station permit without a public hearing.

In the 2008-09 comprehensive rezoning of the entire parish, we zoned many properties I-2, which is part of our responsibility as elected officials. This is an excellent zoning for this area based on its location at an interstate quadrant. It is NOT a "gateway zoning'' that would enable poor decisions to be made, nor would it open the door to more intense industrial uses. I-2 zoning allows for clean, light industrial uses that do not harm the environment, and it brings businesses and needed jobs to the Lacombe area. Based on the court's recent decision that zoning does not allow a waste transfer station.

This is no longer a police jury system. There are 250,000 people in this parish, and we have 14 council members who have to consider all matters as it pertains to the whole parish, not just our individual districts. It should be noted that I was out-voted twice when I requested moratoriums on waste transfer stations. The council often overrides the request of other council members. We have to fight for our rights. This is how the system works. Our society and government don't work if the citizens wait until it is too late to become concerned. In a rapidly developing parish, zoning requests and changes will often occur.

At the Parish Council meeting in February, everyone got the chance to speak. We spent almost two hours on this issue, not 30 minutes.

The excuse that the planning director made an "erroneous decision'' is contrary to the judge's recent ruling. The ruling stated that the director's decision to permit a waster transfer station without a public hearing was arbitrary and capricious, not erroneous. This is what upset the citizens of Lacombe.

It is my strong opinion that this is not over, and future zoning requests will be made, and litigation will continue.